Barry Jolette - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood City's Monthly ...

Celebration Begins As Courthouse Hits 100
The historic San Mateo County Courthouse hits
the century mark this summer and, to celebrate,
the San Mateo County Historical Association
recently kicked off a slate of activities to honor
the grand building.
The courthouse — recently renovated and
known for its beautiful stained-glass dome —
houses the historical museum and is even used for
courtroom settings in films.
The building and its adjacent Courthouse
Square plaza form the grand centerpiece of
downtown Redwood City, and the association
estimates tens of thousands of people enjoy it
annually.
The courthouse building first opened with a
grand celebration July 4, 1910. The historical
association began calling it home a decade ago.
The celebration kickoff on Jan. 28 included
costumed characters from the Strange Case of
Constance Flood. On Feb. 6, the Boy Scouting
exhibit was opened, commemorating 100 years
of both the courthouse and the Boy Scouts.
Remaining events include:
Saturday, March 6, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.: A
children’s craft program featuring the courthouse
building and its architecture.
Saturday, April 24, at 1 p.m.: Children’s
Edwardian Tea Party, a lesson on etiquette of the
1910s.
Sunday, May 16, from noon to 5 p.m.: Free
admission day for Honoring Our Heritage:
Immigrants Day Festival. The traditional
celebration honors the cultures that have made
San Mateo County their home. Plus, a special
salute to the courthouse as a symbol of American
citizenship.
Sunday, June 6, at 2 p.m.: The San Mateo
County Historical Association’s Annual Meeting
for members. An in-depth presentation on the
construction of the courthouse will be featured.
Friday, June 25: Special release of publication
La Peninsula, dedicated to the courthouse and
featuring articles by those who have worked in the
building, including former U.S. Supreme Court
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Sunday, July 4: Special presentations during
the Redwood City parade and opening of the
exhibit “If These Walls Could Talk.” Participation
by organizations that originally celebrated
the courthouse’s opening in 1910 and family
activities, including Fourth of July crafts with
hand-churned ice cream and distribution of a free
32-page activity book for children.
Sunday, Sept. 12, from noon to 4 p.m.:
Victorian Days at the courthouse with a special
reenactment of the Strange Case of Constance
Flood, which actually took place in Courtroom A
in 1931.
For more information visit www.historysmc.org.
Editor’s note: This article appeared first in the Daily Journal
newspaper.
In period costume, Diane Rummel prepares the
Courthouse Centennial Celebration cake inside the San
Mateo County History Museum. The museum’s 100thyear
celebration will continue throughout the year with
events and new exhibits for children and adults.
The Spectrum 9